‘Swanky’ new Boise cocktail bar opens with rooftop patio, ex-Green Bay Packer as owner
If you’re craving a Weller bourbon on the rocks or a creative mixed drink, a new bar wants to pour you a stiff one.
The James, a whiskey and cocktail lounge, began serving liquor this week. Located above Crave Delivery, 1030 S. Broadway Ave., the second-floor bar features a rooftop patio with a view of nearby Albertsons Stadium.
“Join us for a cocktail in a swanky, vibrant environment reminiscent of the Roaring 1920s,” The James beckons on its website. “The James’ mission is to bring quality mixology, hospitality and good times ... .”
Former Boise State football player Daryn Colledge is a co-owner — and the face of the place, manager Chris Mitchell said. Colledge won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 2011 as an offensive guard. So The James hopes to be a BSU game-day destination, Mitchell said. There are five TVs.
The idea is to appeal to more than Broncos fans, though, since the bar is open from 3 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Sundays.
With house and classic cocktails priced around $12-$14, The James has capacity for about 50 inside. There’s room for about 80 more outdoors.
With winter near, most customers probably won’t socialize outdoors right away. For now, bargoers can cozy up indoors with a drink actually called The James ($13): Early Times Bottled in Bond, aromatic bitters, vanilla bean and fig syrup. Or maybe a Don’t Sink the Ship ($13): Ford’s Gin, Fernet-Branca, Cointreau, Carpano Antiga Formula Vermouth and orange bitters.
The James stocks a variety of liquors, but whiskey is the star. The bar opened with a selection of 35 to 40 different kinds, Mitchell said, “and I’m building the collection from there. Not to mention a bunch of other more boutique stuff.”
Not that The James is too high-end or fashionable for its own good. Serving beer and wine (but not liquor yet) during soft-opening mode in recent weeks, Mitchell watched customers bounce between his spot and Suds Tavern next door, or even the End Zone farther down the street.
“I look at it as kind of a benefit,” he said of having both college bars nearby. “There’s definitely carryover between the two.”
Online: thejamesboise.com.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 1:23 PM.